Storage-tank for explosive liquids.



L. KESSLER. STORAGE TANK FOR EXPLOSIVE LIQUIDS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1I 1909. RENEWED JUNE 4, 1910.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

L. KESSLER.

STORAGE TANK FOR EXPLOSIVE LIQUIDS. APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 1, 1909. nmmwnn JUNE 4, 1910.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

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LOUIS KEssLEn, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assxofnon.y 'ro J. `s. rmu'nny, or CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

STORAGE-TANK FOR EXPLOBIVE LIQUIDE.

Specification of Letters Patent.'

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

Application led June 1, 1909, Serial No. 499,577. Renewed June 4, 1910. Serial No. 565,078.

To all whom 'it ma/y concern:

Be it known that l, Lotus KEssnER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of 5 Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in `Storage-Tanks for Explosive Liquids, of which the following is a 'specification.V *Y My invention relates to improvement in storage-tzu'iks, of either' large or small size, used for containing volatile and highly explosive liquids such as (gasolene, naphtha, the object of my invention is to yprovide a tank for this purpose with means for elfectually preventing explosion of its contents by volatilization thereof under subjection to the action Of heat, as in case of fire, or by ignition of gas escaping from the tank.

Referring to the accompanying drawingswFigure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of a tank equipped with my improvement; Fig. 2 is a broken plan view of the end-portion of the tank showing the safety-device with which it is equipped to afford my improvement; Fig. 3 is an enlarged View in vertical section of the safety device taken at line 3, Fi 2; Fig. 4 is aview in plan section of t ersafety-device taken at line 4 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan sectional View taken at line 5- on Fig. 3.

A tank 6 of any desired shape, though preferably of rectangular form, as shown in a discharge or draw-off opening 7. 0n the inside of the tank this opening is covered with a wire-gauze screen 8, and to the outside thereof about the opening is secured a nipple 9 to which may be connected a pipe, valve, or other device (not shown), for the purpose of conducting liquid from the tank. A anged ring 10 provided with a threaded 4opening ll is attached about its flange to the top of the tank and a safety-device 12 having a hollow head 13 is secured to the tank by a threaded engagement of the head with the opening 11. From the head projects a downwardly extending annular flange 14 having an opening 15 through it and to the flange is attached one end of a tube 16 equipped at its opposite' end with a disk-sha ed wire-gauze screen 17, which is preferably secured position by being clamped at its circumferential edge between the drawings, is provided at the bottoml withl ternallv threaded thimbler22rtightly.fitting..

the head or otherwise firmly secured therein and a cap 23 formed with a series of openings 24 and va central orice 25 is screwed upon the thimble. A vapor or exhaust-valve 26 rovided with sealing disk 27, preferably of eather, is provided with a tubular 'depending stem 28. The disk 27 seats upon the .cap to yieldingly close the openings 24 against. ingress of air while ermitting egressof gas from the tank as wil presently appear. The stem 28 passes loosely through the orifice 25 and carries at its inner end a hollow flangedI cap 29 which serves to conne a spring 30 interposed about the stem between it andv the cap 23. A valve-seat 3l is formed in the outer end-portion of the stem 28 and a vent or air-intake valve 32 having an up er stem 33 and a lower stem 34 is yielding y held by a spring 35, against the seat 31 for normally closing the passage through the tubular stem. The stems 33 and 34 are afforded bearings, respectively, in the valve 26 and the cap 29 and are formed with flat faces to atl'ord a passage for air along and between them and their bearings.

It is customary to use tanks of the present class with small vent-holes which are ordinarily left open at all times for the pur pose of permittlng free ingress of air to the tank for replacing the liquid as it is consumed, and prevent air-binding of the contents. Great waste results from the continued escape, through the vent, of vapor from the contents of the tank. Besides such Waste, there is the constant danger of explosion of the tank bythe accidental ignition of the escaping gas. Furthermore, Such tanks are liable to explosion from other causes, particularly in case of fire from the heat thereof. When from any cause, the contents become unduly heated, and the vent (having an unvarying area), is insuiiicient to properly relieve the increasing pressure of accumulating as generated from such cause, the tank wi l explode vupon the pressure becoming excessive. With my improvement all danger of explosion is eliminated I and the loss through evaporation duefto the emergency.

The tank as constructed is admirably adapted for use on automobiles but it is not limited to such use, since it may be used for general storage purposes.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the tank to be filled with gasolene or other highl explosive liquid, as the contents are with rawn, a partial vacuum is produced in the tank Which, when it overcomes the force of the spring 35, causes the valve 32 to open, thereby permitting air to enter past the valve and through the screen 21 and perforations 20 to replace the Withdrawn liquid. The air Within the tank is main-- tained at a pressure somewhat less than atmospheric pressure, which difference is represented by the force of the spring 35, with the result that the less quantity of air absorbs a less quantity of the contents and resulting in a eonsequentmaterial saving by preventing excessive evaporation. Upon the exposure of the tank to undue heat, causing pressure therein through the evaporation of its contents, the pressure Will be v relieved when it reaches a point in excess of the force of the spring 30 by raising the valve 26 from its seat and allowing vapor from the tank to escape to the atmosphere What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In combination with a tank of the character described, a safety -device having a head provided With a plurality of holes and seating in said tank, a metal screen covering said holes, a tube extending from said head, a metal screen interposed in the passage through said tube, a cap provided with a plurality of openings and a central orifice and removably secured on said head, a spring-seated exhaust -avalve closing said openings and provided with a hollow stem Working in said orifice, a spring about said stem for closing the valve, a valve-seat and a spring-seated air-inlet valve Within the stem, for the purpose set forth.

CHAS. E. GAYLORD, Il. G. KIRKLAND. 

